April 2013 Natural Awakenings of Western Mass by Carrie Kennedy

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April 2013

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contents 10

5 newsbriefs 9 community spotlight

10 healthbriefs

Natural Awakenings is your guide to a healthier, more balanced life. In each issue readers find cutting-edge information on natural health, nutrition, fitness, personal growth, green living, creative expression and the products and services that support a healthy lifestyle.

9 NEW ENGLAND HYDROPONICS

1 2 ecotip

Ethan Holmes is Growing Green

12 globalbriefs 14 business

by Judith Kelliher

14 10 TIPS FOR

GREENER LIVING

spotlight

1 5 wisewords 20 consciouseating

by Carleen Eve Fischer Hoffman

15 HEALING THE

ECOSYSTEM WITHIN

A Conversation with Bioneers Co-Founder Nina Simons

2 1 naturalpet 22 fitbody 27 calendar

by Brita Belli

HOW TO ADVERTISE To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please contact us at 413-234-0024 or email Publisher@NAWestMA.com. Deadline for ads: the 10th of the month. EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS Email articles, news items and ideas to: Publisher@NAWestMA.com. Deadline for editorial: feature articles are due by the 5th of the month, news briefs and health briefs are due by the 10th. CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS Submit Calendar Events online at NAWestMA.com within the advertising section. Deadline for calendar: the 10th of the month. REGIONAL MARKETS Advertise your products or services in multiple markets! Natural Awakenings Publishing Corp. is a growing franchised family of locally owned magazines serving communities since 1994. To place your ad in other markets call 239-449-8309. For franchising opportunities call 239-530-1377 or visit NaturalAwakeningsMag.com.

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16 THE NEXT LEVEL Education for a More Sustainable World

3 1 resourceguide

advertising & submissions

by Linda Sechrist

19 CLEARING CLUTTER

THE FENG SHUI WAY

Letting Go Brings Clarity and Confidence by Susan LaForte

20 EATING ECOLOGY

Daily Decisions Make a Difference by Judith Fertig

DETECTING DISEASE Liver and Adrenal Issues Share Symptoms by Dr. Shawn Messonnier

24 GOING ELECTRIC

Tech Advances May Drive Eco-Transportation Mainstream by Brita Belli

26 HOUSEHOLD CLEANSE Banish these Five Chemicals for a Domestic Detox by Gail Griswold-Elwyn

natural awakenings

April 2013

letterfrompublisher

pring is officially in full swing and so is Natural

Awakenings of Western Massachusetts. Celebrations abound. Patriot’s Day on April 15 is big here, the long weekend culminating with the running of the Boston Marathon and

contact us Publisher Carrie Kennedy Advertising Sales Carrie: 413-234-0024 Editorial Linda Sechrist Design & Production C. Michele Rose Stephen Blancett Multi-Market Advertising 239-449-8309 Franchise Sales John Voell 239-530-1377 Natural Awakenings of Western Mass P.O. Box 10275, Holyoke, MA 01041 Phone: 413-234-0024 Fax: 413-425-8367 Publisher@NAWestMA.com NAWestMA.com facebook.com/pages/ Natural-Awakenings-of-Western-Mass

a Red Sox game. April also brings Keep America Beautiful month, which elegantly embraces both Earth Day and Arbor Day the following week, which served as inspiration for the cutie on our cover. The African tree frog reminds me of Kermit’s song about being green: “It’ll do fine, it’s beautiful and I think it’s what I want to be.” Yes, every issue of this magazine is a green issue, but our editorial team goes all out for this month’s theme of Green Living. Linda Sechrist’s feature article, “Education for a More Sustainable World,” shares a promising road map that can help ensure creative problem solving for issues large and small. Whether collaborating to address global crises or facilitating communications with people different from ourselves, it all helps us become a better connected, responsible whole. We have infinite ways to honor Earth Day on April 22, including fun gatherings around town as we each look to embrace new habits honoring our mother planet. Cleansing chemical toxins from our home is one good way to start that I am personally working on; Gail Griswold-Elwyn offers some effective and affordable alternatives in this month’s Healing Ways department. Among my own green living resolutions, this past year I committed to no longer purchase any individually wrapped food or one-use items. Reducing wasteful packaging both saves energy and other resources in production and keeps trash out of landfills. Although having a large garden is not an option for me, I

©2013 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved. Although some parts of this publication may be reproduced and reprinted, we require that prior permission be obtained in writing. Natural Awakenings is a free publication distributed locally and is supported by our advertisers. It is available in selected stores, health and education centers, healing centers, public libraries and wherever free publications are generally seen. Please call to find a location near you or if you would like copies placed at your business. We do not necessarily endorse the views expressed in the articles and advertisements, nor are we responsible for the products and services advertised. We welcome your ideas, articles and feedback.

SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscribe online to receive FREE monthly digital magazine at NAWestMA.com. Natural Awakenings is printed on recycled newsprint with soybased ink.

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still share what herbs and produce I can and compost foliage and kitchen scraps. (Many of our towns and cities even have a compost pickup service.) This coming year I want to do more consignment shopping; it’s a great way to practice the 3 R’s of recycle, repurpose and reuse. As part of our mission to educate and elevate consciousness by sharing positive messages and choices for each individual, family, business and community, we encourage you to take what works for you from these pages. Then pass the magazine on to others that may also love to benefit. To making Earth Day every day,

Carrie Kennedy, Publisher NAWestMA.com

newsbriefs Spring Plant Sale Blooms in West Springfield

he Hampden Conservation District is hosting a sale of trees, shrubs, perennials, groundcovers, edibles and other plants through April 10, to benefit the conservation and management of local natural resources in Hampden County. Orders can be placed online and must be picked up between 9 a.m. and noon, April 27, at the Big E Massachusetts Building, in West Springfield. Soil testing will be available for a $1 donation on pick-up day. In cooperation with the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service, each plant purchased helps fund technical assistance, educational tours and workshops in the county. The Hampden Conservation District is governed by a board of supervisors comprising locally elected citizens that meet once a month and volunteer their time and leadership for conservation. Location: 1305 Memorial Ave. Confirmation of pick-up letter is needed for admittance to fairground. For more information, call 413-230-7722, email 413TreeSale@gmail.com or visit PioneerValleyConservation.org.

Massage Therapist Adds Credentials and Opens Florence Office

icensed Massage Therapist Vivian Bresnitz, the owner of Well Being Massage & Bodywork, has added a personal trainer certification to her list of credentials and has opened a second office at 24 North Maple Street, in Florence. “This allows me to better serve my clients with skilled information on exercises and enables me to design Vivian Bresnitz programs for various needs and goals,” says Bresnitz. “For some, it’s simply gaining better stability and balance; for many, it’s building towards strength.” Bresnitz’s unique focus is exercise for rehabilitative and preventive care for injuries and illness. “I am also available to come to people’s homes to help them create a joyful and user-friendly space for exercise,” she says. Additional location: 143 Shaker Rd., E. Longmeadow. For more information, call 413-348-0412, email Vivian@WellBeing Therapeutic.com or visit WellBeingTherapeutic.com.

Nuestras Raíces Hosts Farm Earth Day Event

he grassroots, nonprofit organization Nuestras Raíces (Spanish for “our roots”) will host a farm cleanup and flower planting on Earth Day, April 22, with free farm tours at 2 and 3 p.m. of La Finca (Spanish for “the farm”), in Holyoke. La Finca is a community-based farmers’ project with space for celebrations and gatherings that offers many small business opportunities. La Finca houses a beginning farmers training program called Land of Opportunities that provides community members with access to small plots of leasable land, small loans, training, shared resources, market assistance and community support to help new farmers build the necessary capital, knowledge and connections to graduate from La Finca’s incubation site onto their own farm. Created in 1992 by a few community members that wanted to make a change in their south Holyoke community, Nuestras Raíces represents the strong agricultural ties and history of the Puerto Rican community in Holyoke. Today, the organization is considered a national model for developing sustainable agriculture and green cities. Location: 24 Jones Ferry Rd. For more information, call Farm Manager Cynthia Espinosa at 413-531-2767 or visit Nuestras-Raices.org. natural awakenings

April 2013

newsbriefs Campaign Supports Parkinson’s Unity Walk

atural Awakenings magazine is an enthusiastic sponsor of the One T @ a Time fundraising campaign for the Parkinson’s Unity Walk (PUW) taking place on April 27 in Central Park, in New York City. The campaign has been raising funds for Parkinson’s disease research through the sale of 100 percent organic cotton T-shirts with a universal message of healing: As One, We Heal. Justine Kawas, founder of the organic apparel company Green Changes, and Mary Keunecke, whose families have both been affected directly by Parkinson’s disease, created the shirt’s design. One hundred percent of the net proceeds from the sales will be donated to organizations that research Parkinson’s disease. Kawas, who created the campaign, will lead the One T @ a Time team at the Unity Walk to represent organically healing and uniting the world. The gentle 1.4mile walk includes informational booths along Margot Zobel Way that will include Ask the Doctor and representatives from PUW sponsors and major U.S. Parkinson’s foundations. Walk Location: 72nd St. Bandshell, Central Park. Registration opens at 8:30 a.m. and the walk begins at 10 a.m. For more information, email Justine@GreenChanges.org or visit UnityWalk.org or GreenChanges.org.

Trunk Show Features Eco-Friendly, Fair Trade Wedding Dresses

lthough green weddings are trending, there are few options for brides that want a more meaningful wedding dress. Celia Grace Wedding Dresses & Accessories will be featured at the Pearl Bridal Boutique Trunk Show, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., April 6, in Open Square, Holyoke. By appointment only, brides can try on Celia Grace’s wedding dresses, which feature vintage-style lace and exclusive feather-light eco-silk, made on non-electric looms and sewn following fair-trade practices. Celia Grace connects brides with the women that made their wedding dress, adding meaning to weddings and empowering women around the world. Most of the company’s gowns are woven by hand in rural Cambodian villages, by women using non-electric, wooden looms. The centuries-old traditional craft has been nearly lost due to the Khmer Rouge genocide and machine-made silk from China. Celia Grace founder and CEO Marcia Muehlke developed the company after unsuccessfully searching for a wedding dress of her own that matched her values of human rights and environmental stewardship. She founded Celia Grace with a commitment to help brides, workers and the environment. Location: One Open Square Way. For more information, call 413-315-6102, email Marcie@Celia-Grace.com or visit Celia-Grace.com.

News to share?

Email details to: Publisher@NAWestMA.com Submittal deadline is the 10th of the month. 6

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Natural Awakenings Offers New Dating Website

atural Awakenings is premiering a new online dating site, NaturalAwakeningsSingles.com, in partnership with the Conscious Dating Network, the Internet’s largest and oldest conscious/spiritual/green dating site. Niche, online dating offers singles an efficient way to screen and date potential partners that share similar values and interests and are ready to be in a loving relationship. NaturalAwakeningsSingles.com is designed to facilitate this enlightened way of meeting, dating and connecting. The site will allow singles to join, create a full profile, upload photos and videos, send hellos, indicate interest and even read and reply to private messages and IMs, all for free. Upgrading, which allows members to initiate personally written messages and IMs, is inexpensive compared to other online dating sites, with packages ranging from $7.97 to $16.97 per month. Natural Awakenings Publishing Corp. CEO Sharon Bruckman says, “I’m really excited about this new alliance, which enables us to offer our 88-plus Natural Awakenings publishers around the country yet another way to help their readers connect with like-minded people, this time for the purpose of creating conscious relationships. I can’t wait to hear the new love stories.” For more information, visit NaturalAwakeningsSingles.com. See ad, page 25.

Resource Center Launches Entrepreneurial Education Programs

B New Therapeutic Yoga Studio in Florence

iver Valley Yoga has opened at 30 North Maple Street, in Florence. Owners Susan Elena Founded Esquivel (left) and on the Suzie Goldstein philosophy that yoga is for everybody, the studio welcomes students of all ages and levels and keeps class sizes limited. Owners Susan Elena Esquivel and Suzie Goldstein have extensively studied the hatha yoga tradition of B. K. S. Iyengar. They view yoga as a therapeutic tool to improve structural alignment, flexibility and balance, and they support the use of props, such as straps and blocks, to aid proper alignment in poses and minimize the risk of injury. River Valley Yoga offers daily classes focusing on structural alignment, as well as smaller specialized therapeutic yoga classes and a variety of workshops and series. The studio is equipped with a rope wall, yoga chairs and all the props necessary for the optimum comfort of each student. Esquivel and Goldstein both belong to the Iyengar Yoga National Association of the United States and the International Association of Yoga Therapists.

eginning in late April, Startup Helping Hand, in Holyoke, will launch a program designed to help create business opportunities for the homebound heroes of the Pioneer Valley. The entrepreneur resource center and incubator has designed a six-month curriculum to bring veterans from idea to operation, providing handson assistance, customized workshops and access to office space and equipment. Experts will work one-on-one with the participants to determine what type of business best fits each veteran’s specific interests, skills and abilities. “Our goal is to assist 100 veterans to open thriving businesses within the next two years,” advises Founder and CEO Jack Clemente. The center contains 3,400 square feet of equipped, shared office space and offers daily and monthly memberships, with or without services. Weekly workshops that are open to the public cover such topics as the best ways to use social media (Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter) and learning how to structure and present a business pitch. Clemente says Startup Helping Hand plans to develop a Women in Business series, followed by a program focusing on minority-owned business. Member entrepreneurs receive one-on-one professional guidance and have access to weekly workshops focused on developing and launching their own business. “It is a mentoring program that ensures success,” explains Clemente. “Currently, we offer members access to professionals in the areas of finance, legal, web development, graphic design, marketing, networking, social media, public speaking, human resources, real estate and public relations.” He says the environment facilitates collaboration within the entrepreneurial community. Location: 489 Whitney Ave., Ste. 308. For more information, call 413-650-6430, ext. 1002, email Jack@StartupHelpingHand.com or visit StartupHelpingHand.com.

For more information, call 413-584-1414, email Contact@ RiverValleyYoga.com or visit RiverValleyYoga.com.

natural awakenings

April 2013

newsbriefs T’ai Chi Class Honors World T’ai Chi and Qigong Day

xperienced t’ai chi and qigong instructor Michelle Grassi, LMT, will celebrate World T’ai Chi and Qigong Day by leading a t’ai chi class from 9 to 11 a.m., April 27, at Abundant Wellness Center, in Chicopee. Participants breathe and move together as one in this ancient form of moving meditation, which has been shown to reduce stress and increase flexibility. Throughout 70 countries, thousands of people will practice t’ai chi and qigong on this day to create a healing vision for the world. “Dress comfy, bring water and learn how to cultivate your energy and use it for self-healing, balance and exercise,” says Grassi.

’

Cost: Free. Location: 94 Chicopee St. For more information, call 413-592-2828 or email Info@AbundantWellness.net. To reach Grassi, call 413-636-3205 or visit PillarsMassage.com. See ad, page 14.

Natural Awakenings’ Family of Franchises Keeps Growing

atural Awakenings Publishing Corp. (NAPC) recently welcomed a group of new publishers that completed a March training program at corporate headquarters in Naples, Florida. The NAPC training staff spent several days with the entrepreneurs now launching new Natural Awakenings territories or taking over the production of existing magazines in several locales. New markets include Albany, New York; Toledo, Ohio; and Portland, Maine; and the franchise in Indianapolis, Indiana, will have a new publisher at the helm. Company CEO Sharon Bruckman launched the first edition of Natural Awakenings in 1994 and began franchising it in 1999. The company currently publishes 88 Natural Awakenings magazines throughout the United States and in Puerto Rico, with a collective readership exceeding 3.5 million. “Interest in naturally healthy living that’s good for people and the planet is now influencing mainstream America, thanks in part to our active and growing readership,” says Bruckman. “Natural Awakenings’ dedicated family of publishers, supported by loyal advertisers, connects readers with a wealth of national and local resources mapping out alternate routes to a healthier, happier, longer life.” For a list of locations where Natural Awakenings is publishing or to learn more about franchise opportunities, visit NaturalAwakeningsMag.com or call 239-5301377. See ad, page 2.

e that plants trees loves others beside himself.

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~Thomas Fuller NAWestMA.com

Free ‘Juice’ at Holyoke Mall Recharging Station

he Holyoke Mall at Ingleside is installing a new electronic vehicle recharging station on the middle deck of the parking garage at the Macy’s end of the complex. The station will be available in April and represents a city, state and mall partnership. Recharging is free, with the mall paying for electricity. Other Pioneer Valley areas with recharging station locations include Northampton, Hadley, Greenfield and West Springfield.

For more information, including a list of recharging locations, visit CarStations.com.

kudos The Environmental Working Group (EWG) applauds grocery retailer Whole Foods Market for its commitment to label foods sold in its U.S. and Canadian stores that contain genetically engineered (GE) ingredients, setting the deadline for 2018. It is the first national grocery chain to pledge a date for full transparency for genetically modified organism (GMO) content. “This announcement by Whole Foods will give consumers the information they need to make the right choice for their families,” states Ken Cook, president of EWG and a board member of Organic Voices, a national nonprofit. “The announcement will add new urgency to efforts to require GE labeling in more than 20 states and put new pressure on the Obama administration to fulfill the promise that then-presidential candidate Barack Obama made in 2007.” EWG has been active in efforts to ensure that consumers in the United States gain the right to know whether the food they eat has been genetically engineered. Earlier this week, EWG and Organic Voices, which manages the Just Label It campaign, announced a new collaboration to highlight the benefits of organic food and advance the fight for universal labeling of GE ingredients. For more information, visit ewg.org and WholeFoodsMarket.com.

communityspotlight

New England Hydroponics Ethan Holmes is Growing Green by Judith Kelliher

than Holmes, owner of New England Hydroponics, in Southampton, first became curious about high-tech gardening while he was in college, and what began as a hobby has bloomed into a full-fledged hydroponics business. Intrigued by this method of using nutrients in water or another medium to grow plants without soil, he started to play around with hydroponic systems, lighting and controls. “I learned more about the method by researching the topic on the Internet, shopping and experimenting,” recalls Holmes, who launched his hobby by setting up a small system to grow culinary herbs. “As soon as I started understanding it a little bit more, this technologically intense way of growing plants was very interesting,” he says. “Over time, I’ve developed a passion for it.” Holmes quickly realized the advantages of hydroponic growing systems, which include quicker and larger plant growth and more control over the nutrients the plants receive. “People want to know where their food comes from and what’s in their food,” he points out. “With hydroponics, you certainly have complete control over that. Growing plants in your house is about as local as you can get.” After he graduated from Worcester Polytechnic Institute, in Worcester, with a degree in management information systems that focused on business and computers, Holmes recognized an opportunity. “In 2002, when I started selling hydroponics equipment, I was just about the only person doing so on eBay. It was something I saw as a business opportunity, and it’s been a growing market ever since. I was at the right place at the right time.” While Holmes sold New England Hydroponics products online, he also worked full time in general retail, ordering beer and wine for the Trader Joe’s, in Framingham, and later transferring to the company’s store in Hadley. During that fiveyear span, Holmes cut back on his Trader Joe’s hours to devote more time to selling hydroponics products. Holmes used his background in computer technology to design his own website so he could sell his products directly, instead of using eBay. However, living in a one-bedroom apartment in Framingham and trying to stock

all the equipment he was selling proved challenging. In 2007, while still selling online, Holmes opened a 1,250-square-foot retail store in a shopping plaza on College Highway to sell hydroponic systems and grow lights. As business continued to flourish, he moved the store within the same plaza to a new, 3,000-square-foot space in January 2012. Earlier this year, Holmes added another 1,000 square feet so he could sell soils and organic products. A warehouse at another location in Southampton is home to products used to fulfill online orders. His customer base includes homeowners at the hobby level that want to set up small systems in their homes to grow such products as lettuce or herbs. “People who get more into it have tomatoes and peppers that they grow through the winter. If you’re really committed, it’s nice to have fresh tomatoes rather than what you get at the store,” he notes. Holmes enjoys educating customers about different hydroponic systems and helping them achieve control over what they’re growing. “It’s something people respond to, and it’s very personal. It’s nice to help people do something that’s very positive,” he observes. New England Hydroponics sells a variety of products for indoor growing, such as climate controllers, grow containers, air pumps, water filters and full hydroponic kits. Through the years, Holmes has expanded his product line to include organic soils and fertilizers, as well as outdoor gardening supplies. “We wanted to branch out more to reach people that have outdoor gardens and need organic products,” he says. As consumer awareness about this alternative growing system increases and more hydroponics products become available, Holmes believes this form of gardening will continue to expand. “It’s a fun hobby and kind of snowballs once you get into it and start realizing all the possibilities,” he enthuses. Location: 15 College Hwy., Rte. 10. For more information, call 1-888-529-9025, email EHolmes@ NEHydro.com or visit NEHydro. com. See ad, page 17. Judith Kelliher is publications director for Beetle Press, a writing, editing and graphic design company based in Easthampton. Connect at BeetlePress@hotmail. com or BeetlePress.com. natural awakenings

April 2013

healthbriefs

A Bus Pass to Green Well-Being

here’s a way to simultaneously help both Planet Earth and one’s own health, report scientists from Imperial College London, in England. The researchers examined four years of data from the country’s Department for Transport National Travel Survey beginning in 2005, the year before free bus passes were available for people ages 60 and older. The study team found that those with a pass were more likely to walk frequently and take more journeys by “active travel”— defined as walking, cycling or using public transport. Staying physically active helps maintain mental well-being, mobility and muscle strength in older people and reduces their risk of cardiovascular disease, falls and fractures. Previous research by Taiwan’s National Health Research Institutes published in The Lancet has shown that just 15 minutes of moderate daily exercise lowers the risk of death in people over 60 by 12 percent, and another study at Newcastle University found that 19 percent of Britain’s adults achieve their recommended amount of physical activity through active travel alone. Public health organizations in the UK believe that “incidental” exercise, such as walking to and from bus stops, may play a key role in helping seniors keep fit and reduce social exclusion.

Getting the Lead Out

he U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently redefined the “action level” for lead exposure in children. Youngsters are now considered at risk and qualify for careful medical monitoring if they have more than five micrograms per deciliter of lead in their blood—half the previous threshold. Lead poisoning can cause cognitive and behavioral problems, and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends testing blood lead concentration levels at age 1 and again at 2, when concentrations peak. Most lead poisoning cases occur in substandard housing units, especially those with window frames still coated with lead-based paint banned since 1978. Families in dwellings built before 1950 should also be vigilant about lead. The Consumer Products Safety Commission cautions that home lead test kits sold online and at hardware stores may not be reliable enough to identify and remove sources of exposure. Professional contractors offer more accurate results. Children exhibiting blood lead levels above the new threshold are usually monitored, rather than treated with medications that carry serious risks. Once lead sources are removed, children’s blood lead levels typically return to a more normal range within weeks. The CDC confirms that rather than remedial treatment, the primary goal should be making sure children aren’t exposed to lead in the first place. Fortunately, the levels of most of America’s youngest children today are well below the revised action point, with average blood lead content of 1.8 micrograms, while school-age children, teenagers and adults face little risk. 10

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COFFEE AND VISION LOSS LINKED

asing up on java consumption or switching to decaf may be a wise move for coffee lovers, according to a scientific paper published in Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science. The study links heavy consumption of the caffeinated beverage to an increased risk of developing exfoliation glaucoma, a condition in which fluid builds up inside the eye and puts pressure on the optic nerve. This leads to some vision loss and in serious cases, total blindness. Researchers obtained data from 78,977 women from the Nurses’ Health Study and 41,202 men from the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study that focused on caffeinated coffee, tea and cola servings. They found that drinking three or more cups of caffeinated coffee daily was linked with an increased risk of developing the eye condition, especially for women with a family history of glaucoma. However, the researchers did not find associations with consumption of decaffeinated tea, chocolate or coffee. “Because this is the first [such] study, confirmation of the U.S. results in other populations would be needed to lend more credence to the possibility that caffeinated coffee might be a modifiable risk factor for glaucoma,” says Doctor of Science Jae Hee Kang, of the Channing Division of Network Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, in Boston, Massachusetts. “It may also lead to research into other dietary or lifestyle risk factors.”

HOW DOES YOUR GARDEN GLOW?

ardening can be a healthy pastime… as long as toxic tools aren’t involved. Researchers at the Ann Arbor, Michigan-based Ecology Center recently tested nearly 200 garden essentials—especially hoses, hand tools, gloves and knee pads—for chemicals and heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, phthalates and Bisphenol A (BPA), which are linked to birth defects, hormone imbalances, learning delays and other serious health problems. The researchers found that nearly two-thirds of the tested products contained levels of chemicals that concerned them greatly. Cautious gardeners should seek products that are free of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and lead-free, and follow good garden hose hygiene: Avoid drinking out of the hose, don’t leave it exposed to the sun (where water within the hose can absorb chemicals) and always flush it out before watering edible plants. Source: EcologyCenter.org

A DIET FOR HEALTHY BONES

ge-related bone mass loss and decreased bone strength affect both genders. Now, the first randomized study, published in the Endocrine Society’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, indicates that consuming a Mediterranean diet enriched with olive oil may be associated with increased serum levels of osteocalcin, a protein that plays a vital role in bone formation. Earlier studies have shown that the incidence of osteoporosis in Europe is lower in the Mediterranean basin, possibly due to the traditional Mediterranean diet, which is rich in fruits, vegetables, olives and olive oil.

Treating Allergies with Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine by Stan Baker ith spring and summer’s sunshine and flowers come wind and pollen, which for many people means allergies. Tree pollens are the most prevalent pollens in spring. Grass and weed pollens follow in late spring and summer, and airborne mold spores, dust, dust mites and animal dander are present almost year-round. Hay fever is one example of misplaced immunity. The immune system causes the body to create and release a specific type of immunoglobulin, called an IgE antibody. These antibodies attach themselves to mast cells, a type of white blood cell located primarily in the lungs, upper respiratory tract, stomach lining and skin, which then release body chemicals, including histamine, that cause allergy symptoms. Billions of dollars were spent last year on drugs related to allergies and asthma. While many of these over-the-counter remedies provide symptomatic relief, they often produce side effects such as drowsiness, suppression of the immune system or an increased reliance on the medication. Practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) believe that managing allergies by addressing their causes, treating the whole person and focusing on balancing the immune system, leads to substantial long-term health benefits. For example, if a patient is experiencing acute allergy symptoms that last one month, such as sneezing, a runny nose, watery phlegm, occasional loose stools and extreme fatigue, an acupuncture physician will take a history, do a physical examination and assess the condition according to TCM principles, focusing on the patient’s qi, or vital force. The acupuncturist may find a deficiency of wei qi (defensive qi) resulting from a weakness of the lungs and spleen. Treatment for such a diagnosis could include lifestyle recommendations, such as minimizing foods that stimulate mucous production, plus the prescription of a Chinese herbal formula to clear phlegm and tonify the lung and spleen qi. After treatment of the acute symptoms, acupuncture treatment would include a plan and lifestyle suggestions to prepare the immune system for the next allergy season.

Stan Baker is a licensed acupuncturist and diplomate of acupuncture, with more than 25 years of experience. He practices at Integrative Health Group, 1502 Allen St., in Springfield. For more information, call 413-782-9800 or visit AcupunctureStanBaker.com. See ad, page 7.

natural awakenings

April 2013

ecotip

globalbriefs

Gas Saver Keep Bucks in Your Pocket at the Pump When mass transit isn’t an option, drivers have many ways to save money by coaxing more miles per gallon (mpg) from their vehicle. It’s easy to adopt some simple driving and maintenance habits. Slow down. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), driving at 55 mph instead of 65 mph can improve gas mileage by as much as 15 percent. Reduce excess weight. An extra 100 pounds of nonessential cargo in a vehicle could reduce mpg by up to 2 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Properly inflate tires. The increased surface area of the rubber in soft tires meeting the road creates ongoing drag and a greater demand on the engine. Keep the engine tuned. Regularly check and refresh fluid levels, especially in colder regions where winter places additional stress on engine parts. While high-quality synthetic motor oil blends may protect the engine better than conventional oil, they don’t eliminate the need for regular oil changes, according to JiffyLube.com. The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence notes that one misfiring spark plug can reduce fuel efficiency by up to 30 percent. Avoid rapid accelerations and braking. The EPA estimates that about half of the energy needed to power a car is consumed during acceleration, and fuel economy can be improved by as much as 10 percent by avoiding unnecessary braking. Keep the engine air filter clean. According to AAA.com, a clogged filter strains performance. In some cars, the filter can be easily checked by the owner; or drivers may ask a technician to do so during regular tune-ups. 12

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News and resources to inspire concerned citizens to work together in building a healthier, stronger society that benefits all.

Cool Tool

New Calculations for Polar Ice A new report from the University of Washington, in Seattle, published in the journal Science on polar ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica, works to reconcile differences between sometimes-conflicting research studies. Scientists compiled 20 years of data to determine how much ice is being lost and sea levels have increased as the global climate warms. Past studies have shown a range of ice losses, from zero to catastrophic. When the data was synthesized and analyzed holistically, it became clear that the ice sheets are losing three times as much ice each year as they did in the 1990s—in the middle of previous estimates. Ice sheets are one of several main drivers of rising sea levels. Other factors, which account for 80 percent of the increase, include the melting of glaciers on land and the expansion of the sea itself as the atmosphere heats up. The melting of polar sea ice has no direct effect on sea levels because the ice is already in the water. Glaciologist and co-author Ian Joughin told The Christian Science Monitor, “The melting needs monitoring to further understand the ice sheet processes leading to the change.”

Thrifty Threads

Levi’s Latest Sustainable Moves World record holder and Olympic champion sprinter Usain Bolt will soon model Puma boots that are “made for rotting,” and when the next Levi Strauss collection arrives, their new jingle will be, “These jeans are made of garbage.” Crushed brown and green half-liter plastic bottles will be on display at retail store displays, of which the equivalent of eight, or 20 percent, are blended into each pair of Waste<Less jeans. Nike and Gap have their own sustainability programs, and Patagonia has long supported a small ecosystem of Earth-friendly suppliers. But as the biggest maker of jeans in the world, with sales of $4.8 billion in 2011, Levi’s efforts command the most attention. Levi joined the Better Cotton Initiative, a group of companies that work with local nongovernmental organizations in Pakistan, India, Brazil and Mali to teach farmers how to grow cotton with less water. Last year marked the first cotton harvest given this effort and Levi has blended its share into more than 5 million pairs of jeans. With cotton prices on the rise and pressure from activist groups such as BSR, an environmental organization that works with businesses, large clothing manufacturers are starting to adopt more sustainable practices. Source: Business Week

Silver Lining

Cleaning Up the Cloud The New York Times has reported that “cloud” data centers—which store YouTube videos, run Google searches and process eBay bids—use about 2 percent of all electricity in the nation. In some data centers, up to 90 percent of the energy is wasted. Now, an industry consortium called the Uptime Institute is sponsoring a “server roundup” and handing out rodeo belt buckles to the Internet company that can take the largest number of heat-producing, energy-hungry servers offline. Many centers expend as much or more energy in cooling their facilities as in computing and transmitting data. Sharing best practices has become common among data center pros. Facebook won the Institute’s Audacious Idea award last year for its Open Compute Project, which enabled both its server and data center designs to be open-sourced for anyone to access and improve upon. Source: Slate.com

Better Barters

Swapping Trash for Fresh Produce Mexico City’s innovative monthly Mercado del Trueque (barter market) in Chapultepec Park is a winning trifecta for citizens, local vegetable and plant vendors and the city’s secretariat of the environment. There, residents can exchange cardboard, paper, glass, aluminum, plastic bottles, electronic devices and other waste for paper chits that are redeemed at kiosks for vouchers worth points. The traders can then use the vouchers to buy tomatoes, potatoes, lettuce, lemons and other produce from participating farmers from surrounding districts. Mexico produces 40 million tons of garbage annually, but only recycles about 15 percent. With this barter system, farmers have gained a new place to sell their produce and earn extra income, while the materials collected are processed for industrial reuse. Source: IPSNews.net

Nordic Order

Sweden Running Out of Garbage Sweden’s successful recycling program ensures that only 4 percent of the country’s waste ends up in landfills, while the other 96 percent is reused. But this means incinerators that burn waste to create heat and electricity are running short on fuel. As a solution, Sweden has recently begun to import about 800,000 tons of trash every year from other European countries, most of it from neighboring Norway, which finds it a cost-effective option. Find details at Tinyurl.com/SwedishWaste.

Label GMOs

Whole Foods Supports Americans’ Right to Know Whole Foods Market has become the first company in the industry to decide that all products containing genetically modified organisms (GMO) in its U.S. and Canadian stores must be so labeled by 2018. “We support the consumer’s right to know,” said Walter Robb, co-CEO of Whole Foods Market, in announcing the policy. “The prevalence of GMOs in the United States, paired with nonexistent mandatory labeling, makes it very difficult for retailers to source nonGMO options and for consumers to choose non-GMO products.” Genetic engineering introduces changes in DNA structure—usually to increase crop yield, plant hardiness and aesthetic appeal, rather than improve nutritional content. Acknowledged downsides of artificially transferring genes into plants include substantial increases in the use of chemicals and genetic crosscontamination of fields. While major food companies funded the defeat of California’s Prop 37 calling for GMO labeling, 82 percent of Americans are pro-labeling, according to a recent poll by market research firm YouGov. On April 8, Americans will demand that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) stop choosing Monsanto’s industrial interests over policy transparency and public health. Concerned citizens are beginning to take back America’s food system. Join the Eat-In for GMO Labeling, Stone Soup style, outside of the FDA Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, 5100 Paint Branch Pkwy., College Park, MD 20740, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., April 8. Visit Occupy-Monsanto.com. natural awakenings

April 2013

businessspotlight

10 Tips for

Greener Living by Carleen Eve Fischer Hoffman

imple changes can add up to make big improvements that benefit the planet. Even adopting one or two suggestions from this list can make a difference. Begin by choosing things that are easy to do and then gradually add more green actions.

Keep paper and plastic out of the landfill by using china and flatware for everyday meals and when entertaining. According to WorldCentric.org, 40 billion plastic utensils are tossed into landfills each year.

Stop idling. Idling for more than 10 seconds wastes more gas than is needed for starting the car. Overall, Americans idle away 2.9 billion gallons of gas a year, per TheDailyGreen.com.

Replace synthetic air fresheners with ecofriendly, homemade scents—try lemon slices or cinnamon sticks in a pot of simmering water.

Establish a composting system in the backyard. Between one-third and one-half of all household waste can be turned into compost for use in the garden. Apartment and condominium dwellers can use countertop compost containers. For helpful how-tos, visit EarthEasy.com/ grow_compost.html.

Purchase a rain barrel to collect rain from gutters to use in the garden. Rainwater is typically better for plants than water from wells or municipal utilities—and reusing it helps conserve the planet’s most precious resource. Visit HarvestH2O.com to get started.

Stop junk mail. According to GreenDimes.com, 100 million trees and 28 billion gallons of water are used to send unsolicited mail to Americans every year. Eliminate up to 75 percent of your share by registering with the Direct Marketing Association at DMAChoice.org ($1 fee). Within 90 days, most unsolicited mail will stop.

Pay bills online. Paperless billing saves trees, fossil fuel used by postal service vehicles and money on stamps.

Give away unused or unwanted items. Declutter and recycle simultaneously by using sites like CraigsList. org and FreeCycle.com.

Turn off the computer. Shutting it down at night saves energy and wear and tear on the hardware—and an average of $90 of electricity annually.

Sign up for green energy. More than half of all electricity consumers in the U.S. have the option of purchasing green power from their utility. Check with a local utility to learn what’s available, or visit the U.S. Department of Energy state-by-state list of providers at apps3.eere.energy.gov/ greenpower/. For more green living tips and information, visit GreenLiving.NationalGeographic.com and TheDailyGreen.com. Carleen Eve Fischer Hoffman is the owner of The Clutter Doctor, Inc. Connect with her at ClutterDoctor.com. See ad, page 31.

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wisewords

Healing the Ecosystem Within A Conversation with Bioneers Co-Founder Nina Simons by Brita Belli

ioneers are innovators from all walks of life, seeking to make the world a better place in ways that respect the Earth and all of its inhabitants. Their organization, considered a “network of networks,” connects people and ideas through their annual National Bioneers Conference, local community action groups and original multimedia productions, including the award-winning “Revolution from the Heart of Nature” radio series. Bioneers co-founder Nina Simons, co-editor of Moonrise: The Power of Women Leading from the Heart, talked with Natural Awakenings about the role each of us plays today in creating a more sustainable tomorrow.

How can we be hopeful about the state of the Earth? I feel that we each need to cultivate a balanced view. It’s important to hold what I call a “both/and” awareness, which recognizes how seriously our planet’s life support systems are compromised and how intensive the demand is for us to engage in reversing their deterioration. At the same time, I remain deeply hopeful, because so many people are awakening to the urgency of the issues we face and many more are now mobilizing to act in positive ways.

Does this mean that you see a societal shift toward a better way of thinking? Our state of mind is directly affected by

where we place our attention. If our primary source of information is mainstream media, then it’s easy to feel depressed and hopeless. Each of us would benefit from limiting our daily media intake, because it influences our inner story and impacts how we nourish our psyches, stories and visions. One of the greatest medicines for despair is action. When we act on behalf of what we love and those in need, it can help restore gratitude, a sense of faith and a more balanced view. That’s why natural disasters often elicit the best kinds of responses human beings can offer: compassion, empathy and a desire to generously contribute to solutions.

To what extent does healing the Earth depend on healing ourselves? We co-created the current political, economic, energy, industrial and food production systems based on competition and hierarchies that are wreaking havoc on Planet Earth and on our collective quality of life and future survival. As long as we participate in them, we perpetuate them. We have an immense opportunity to reinvent our selves and society’s systems right now. Our culture conditions us to be hard on ourselves, judging and comparing our talents and actions while often valuing ourselves primarily based on our work or relationships. To be the most effective change agents we can be, I believe we need to reverse these

patterns and learn to consider ourselves and all of life as sacred and inherently worthy of love. One of the most powerful things each of us can do at this pivotal point is to claim full responsibility for our inner “story-scape”—to shift our personal story about the impacts we’re capable of having, what our capacity for action really is and how bringing ourselves in service to life at this moment can be meaningful, joyful and effective.

Isn’t there often a conflict between what people believe and what they do? We each contain a complex ecosystem within us. The more we can become conscious of cultivating ourselves to be authentically and fully in heartfelt service to what we love, the better we can show up on behalf of the Earth and the people and creatures with whom we share it as home.

Do you see women playing a particular role in this transformation? While every person is a unique mix of both masculine and feminine qualities, I think that women as a whole have a deeply embedded coding that inclines us to be especially strong in caring, compassion and collaboration. As leadership capacities, I believe these three—and connecting across differences—may be among the most essential to resilience. Our future as a species will clearly benefit from more women finding their voice, truth and connections to power. The more women that can articulate their individual experiences in support of an inclusive collective vision, the more we can begin to tip our institutions, culture and the men we love to increasingly value these “feminine traits,” which I refer to as relational intelligence. For a long time, we have perpetuated a fatally flawed culture that has put intellect first. It’s past time that we all put the wisdom of our hearts, bodies and intuition first, with intellect in a supporting role. Freelance writer Brita Belli is the editor of E-The Environmental Magazine. Connect at BritaBelli.com. natural awakenings

April 2013

Education for a More Sustainable World by Linda Sechrist

“

hat is the purpose of education?” That’s a question Zoe Weil frequently revisits with her workshop audiences. As co-founder and President of the Institute for Humane Education (IHE), Weil has spent most of her adult life researching the answer. Her conclusion is that the U.S. Department of Education’s present goal of preparing graduates to “compete in the global economy” is far too myopic for our times. Weil’s firsthand research, which grounds her book, The Power and Promise of Humane Education, has led her to forward the idea that the goal should be inspiring generations of “solutionaries” prepared to joyfully and enthusiastically meet the challenges of world problems. “I believe that it is incredibly irresponsible for America’s educators and policymakers not to provide people with the knowledge of interconnected global issues, plus the skills and tools to become creative problem solvers and motivated change makers in whatever fields they pursue,” says Weil. Weil points to four primary elements that comprise a humane education: providing information about current issues in age-appropriate ways; fostering the Three C’s of curiosity, creativity and critical thinking; instilling the Three

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approach requires, with complementary We need to build cases for in-class and online programs for young environmental protection people and adults. Her determined vision is slowly becoming a reality as around broad-based teachers become familiar with these community concerns like concepts and integrate them into handshealth, quality of life, the on, project-based learning that crosses protection of watersheds and disciplines and better marries school experiences with real-life lessons. wildlife and the education of our children. Environmental Make the Extraordinary Ordinary issues are also social, Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s economic and quality of life Seymour Papert, a renowned educator and computer scientist, has conducted issues. Our challenge is to in-depth research in how worthy realbring life-sustaining principles world topics get students excited about into creative thinking for the what they learn. They increase their tendency to dig more deeply and expand long view, rather than the their interest in a wide array of subjects short term. as they better retain what they learn,

~ Terry Tempest Williams R’s of reverence, respect and responsibility; and ensuring access to both positive choices and the necessary tools for problem solving. “These elements enable students to take all that they learn and use it with reverence and a sense of responsibility,” says Weil. Her institute offers the only master’s degrees in humane education that this

become more confident in trusting their own judgment and make the connections needed to broadly apply their knowledge. Young people learn how to collaborate and improve their social and group speaking skills, including with adults. According to Papert, project-based learning improves test scores and reduces absenteeism and disciplinary problems. “If schoolchildren are given the gift of exploration, society will benefit, both in practical and theoretical ways,” notes Papert.

Terry Tempest Williams portrait by Robert Shetterly

Bill McKibben portrait by Robert Shetterly

Zoe Weil portrait by Robert Shetterly

THE NEXT LEVEL

Telling Transformation

Papert’s observations were affirmed by middle school students at Voyagers’ Community School, in Farmingdale, New Jersey, in one of the IHE 10-week online classes—Most Good, Least Harm—in April 2012. “Initially, students were intimidated and underestimated their ability to express their thoughts and concerns or debate issues with the adult participants. That challenge faded quickly,” remarks Karen Giuffre, founder and director of the progressive day school. Posing provocative questions like, “What brings you joy?” and engaging in conversations in subjects like climate change, racism, recycling, green energy, genocide and war challenged the students to step up to become respected equals. “This demanded a lot from these young people, because the experience wasn’t only about absorbing complex issues and developing an awareness of the material, political, economic and cultural world around them. It was also about how they probed their minds and emotions to determine where they stood on issues and what they could do to change their lifestyle, or that of their family and community, to make it more sustainable,” says Giuffre. The students went on to help organize a peace conference that entailed 20-plus workshops to inspire an individual mindful awareness of peace that motivates and empowers the peacemaker within. It was intended to incite collective action across generations, explains Giuffre, and was followed by community service to people impacted by Hurricane Sandy.

Answering the Call

Children or adults that participate in activities such as those created by IHE or the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) Challenge 20/20 are developing what Peggy Holman describes as “change literacy”, the capacity to be effectively present amid a changing set of circumstances. Holman, an adjunct professional lecturer at American University’s School of Public Affairs, in Washington, D.C., is co-founder of the Open Space Institute-US, which fosters whole-system engagement, and author of Engaging Emergence. “Conversational literacy—the capacity to talk and interact in creative ways with others that are very different from us—is our birthright. However, change literacy, a necessary skill for future leaders, is learned via curiosity,” advises Holman. “In my experience, children grasp it more quickly than adults, because authentic expression and curiosity come naturally to them. Children don’t have a long history, and so are naturally more present when engaged in exploring things that matter.” Global problems of deforestation, peacekeeping, conflict prevention, terrorism, water pollution and shortages, natural disasters and mitigation, global warming, education for all, biodiversity, ecosystem losses and global infectious diseases aren’t yet subjects found in a normal curriculum for grades five through nine. However, the Internetbased Challenge 20/20 program now has youth in nearly 120 independent and traditional schools throughout the United States working on solutions that can be implemented both locally and globally. “Challenge 20/20 partners Ameri-

can schools at any grade level [K-12] with counterpart schools in other countries, free of cost,” explains NAIS Director Patrick Bassett. “Together, teams tackle real global problems while forming authentic bonds and learning firsthand about cross-cultural communication.” Qualifying students may have an opportunity to share their experiences at the association’s annual Student Diversity Leadership Conference. In 2010, 11 students at the Fay School, in Southborough, Massachusetts, partnered with Saigon South International School (SSIS), in Vietnam. After a year of studying, raising awareness and brainstorming solutions for the global water deficit, Fay students focused on the challenges families in underdeveloped countries face that must walk miles to find clean, safe, water sources. A taxing water-carrying experiment brought immediate appreciation for the difficulty of transporting water, prompting them to invent the Water Walker. The modified rolling cooler with heavy-duty straps attached can carry up to 40 quarts of water on large, durable wheels and axles designed to navigate rocky terrain.

Re-Imagining Education

“Transformative learning, which is vital to the learning journey, goes beyond the acquisition of information,” says Aftab Omer, Ph.D., president of Meridian University, in Petaluma, California, and founder of its formative Institute of Imaginal Studies. “In informational learning, we acquire facts, concepts, principles and even skills, but in transformative learning, we are cultivating capacities. This is how certain capabilities become embodied in us, either as individuals or

natural awakenings

April 2013

as human systems,” he advises. Portrait artist Robert Shetterly tours with his series of more than 100 portrait paintings in traveling exhibits titled Americans Who Tell the Truth. They are helping individuals learn to embody patience, perseverance and compassion, while enhancing their understanding of sustainability, social justice, civic activism, democracy and civil rights, via both historical role models and contemporary mentors such as environmental activist Bill McKibben, conservationist Terry Tempest Williams and renowned climate scientist James Hansen. “We don’t need to invent the wheel, because we have role models that have confronted these issues and left us a valuable legacy,” remarks Shetterly. In 2004, he collaborated to produce a companion curriculum with Michele Hemenway, who continues to offer it in Louisville, Kentucky, elementary, middle and high schools. Hemenway also teaches Art in Education at Jefferson Community & Technical College and 21st-Century Civics at Bellamine University, both in Louisville. Out of many, she shares a particularly compelling example of a student transformed due to this learning method:

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“I taught a young girl studying these true stories and portraits from the third through fifth grades when she took her place in a leadership group outside the classroom. Now in middle school, she is doing amazing things to make a difference in her community,” says Hemenway. Reflecting on her own life, deciding what she cared about most and what actions she wanted to take, plus her own strengths, helped the student get a blighted building torn down, document and photograph neighborhood chemical dumping and have it stopped and succeed in establishing a community garden, a factor known to help reduce crime. Among Shetterly’s collection is the portrait of John Hunter, a teacher in Charlottesville, Virginia, who devised the World Peace Game for his fourth grade students. Children learn to communicate, collaborate and take care of each other as they work to resolve the game’s conflicts. The game triggers an eight-week transformation of the children from students of a neighborhood public school to citizens of the world. Demonstrating transformational learning at its best, they experience the connectedness of the global community through the lens of economic, social and

environmental crises, as well as the imminent threat of war. Hunter and his students are now part of a new film, World Peace and Other 4th-Grade Achievements, which reveals how effective teaching can help unleash students’ full potential. Professor Emeritus Peter Gray, of Boston College, who researches comparative, evolutionary, developmental and educational psychology, believes the transformational method will be accepted as part of the increased demand to integrate enlightened educational approaches in public schools. The author of Free to Learn notes, “A tipping point can occur. It’s happened before, when women won the right to vote, slavery was abolished and recently when gays were openly accepted in the military.” Weil agrees that when more individuals commit to working toward a sustainable and just world, it will happen. “What’s more worthy of our lives than doing this work for our children and coming generations?” she queries. “How can we not do this for them if we love them?” Linda Sechrist is a Natural Awakenings senior staff writer. For recorded source interviews and additional perspective, visit her website, ItsAllAboutWe.com.

Clearing Clutter the Feng Shui Way

Letting Go Brings Clarity and Confidence by Susan LaForte

pring is a great time to clear the way for revitalizing energy to enter our lives, and the ancient art of feng shui can provide a new perspective and guidance on the perpetual issue of clutter. Feng shui—literally translated as “wind-water”— evokes the same energy as early spring, when it’s finally time to open the windows to fresh air. The lifeaffirming practice of feng shui inspires this feeling of freshness and new hope year-round. Feng shui works with energy, or chi (also called qi), and the job of a feng shui practitioner is to assess what type of energy is present in a living space. Is it blocked or stagnant? Is it flowing too fast or slow? The qualities of positive chi flow are meandering and unblocked as energy moves at a speed that is just right. The biggest obstacle to good chi flow is clutter. Energetically speaking, clutter is unmoving and stale. There may be compelling arguments for saving things that we don’t currently use, such as the idea that we might need them someday. Yet, energetically, it makes better sense to give ourselves permission to let go of anything that is no longer vital, nourishing, cheering, satisfying or useful. Lurking beneath the reasons to hold onto such items is some form of fear—worry about not having enough, of what tomorrow might bring or of an unkind universe. The process of letting go is ongoing, not something that can be accomplished in a weekend with a few plastic bins from the dollar store. When we focus on the truth of our “stuff”, we begin a process that creates its own momentum; once we get going, it

will carry us along. Almost immediately, this refreshing journey starts to bring rewards of greater clarity and more confidence.

GIVE CLUTTER THE CHI TEST Clutter comes in many categories besides broken or messy. In fact, it might apply to items that are nice, useful or even beautiful. Good examples of clutter masquerading as something desirable are gifts or inherited items. Many people declare that they cannot eliminate these things from their lives due to sentimental reasons, but guilt is a clue that the items are clutter. The first thing to ask when considering keeping something or letting it go is, “Does my energy go up or down when I think about it?” The item is probably blocking the flow of life if it makes us feel worried, anxious, heavy, pained, serious, weepy, burdened, stuck or responsible. Another way to assess an array of potential items for discard is to ask, “Does it express who I am now or who I would like to be?” Unfinished projects, collections, scrapbooks, cards, letters and old photos tend to anchor us to the past in ways we have outgrown. It can be freeing and enlightening to let some of this go when we are ready.

MOVE 27 THINGS A powerful exercise that can open our space and life to a new sense of freedom and possibility is also simple: moving 27 things. According to feng shui masters, the number nine represents completion, fulfillment, attainment, realization and universal wisdom, so working in sets of nine brings

enhanced effects. The first nine—throw away. Start by meandering through a space and finding at least nine items that are broken, worn out, spent or dried up. These items have no vitality and their effect is deadening. Toss them. The second nine—give away. Keep in mind a goal of having only things that complete and satisfy you, from which you derive pleasure and a sense of joy. If you are holding onto things that are either unused or unloved, give yourself permission to let them go. There are many outlets for unwanted items, and it is gratifying to know that someone is using and treasuring them. Be generous. The third nine—relocate. When an item that is truly beloved has been in the same spot for too long, we tend not to see it anymore. Moving it to another location reenergizes the item and its owner.

DON’T RUSH THE PROCESS The work of clearing clutter is something that affects people on many levels and shouldn’t be underestimated. Starting small and keeping it simple is important. The benefits of simply cleaning a drawer or behind a door are valuable. If there is doubt about anything, leave it alone. There is no need to rush the process, because once we set the intention to let go, the moment will come in which it will feel perfectly right to do so. Also remember to stay hydrated by drinking water while removing clutter, to keep your energy flowing and focused. Clearing clutter is truly an exercise in trust. Releasing something that has been held for a long time prompts a sense of freedom within us; it creates an opening for something new and wonderful. Rather than being a discouraging anchor, clutter can be a beacon in our lives, showing us from where we have come and directing us to the next path. Certified Feng Shui Practitioner Susan LaForte owns Feng Shui for Home & Business, serving western and central Massachusetts for more than 10 years. She is also the author of Awakening Your Feng Shui Soul! A Practical Guide for Everyday Use. For more information, call 413-253-0722 or visit FengShui WesternMass.com. See ad, page 30. natural awakenings

April 2013

consciouseating

Eating Ecology Daily Decisions Make a Difference by Judith Fertig

onsuming food has such an enormous ripple effect that making small changes, one meal at a time, can reap big benefits. How we choose, prepare, cook, serve and preserve our food can improve nutrition, weight loss, cost savings and the environment.

Decide What to Eat

Choosing what we eat is critical. New York Times food columnist Mark Bittman believes that no food is absolutely off limits because, “It’s all in the way we use these things.” Yet, he adds, “The evidence is clear. Plants promote health.” For the past few years, Bittman has experimented with eating vegan for breakfast and lunch, and then indulging at dinner. “It’s just one model of a new way of eating,” he says, “but it makes sense on many levels. By eating more plants, fewer animals and less processed food, I’ve lost 30 pounds and my cholesterol and blood sugar levels are normal again.” When a friend sent him a 21stcentury United Nations study on how intensive livestock production causes more greenhouse gas emissions than driving a car, Bittman realized how a change of diet is a win-win for him and the environment. For a wake-up call on how our food choices affect the planet, the Center for Science in the Public Interest offers a short quiz at Tinyurl.com/ EatingGreenCalculator. 20

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Identify Good Sources “One of the most ecologically conscious things you can do to make a great meal is prepare it with food that you grew yourself,” says New Yorkbased lifestyle writer Jen Laskey, who blogs at Frugaltopia.com. “Plant a small vegetable garden and a few fruit trees in your yard or join a local community garden. Even sprouting an herb garden on a windowsill will make a difference; plus, everyone in your household will appreciate the choice in fresh seasonings.” Kansas City Star journalist Cindy Hoedel suggests planting parsley, basil, dill and other herbs every three to six weeks in eggshells in a sunny window after the outdoor growing season for a year-round tasty harvest. When shopping, renowned activist, author and eco-stylist Danny Seo, of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, suggests bringing along reusable shopping bags and choosing local foods when possible, plus sustainable seafood and free trade, organic and hormone-free foods. The Socially Responsible Agricultural Project offers more eco-shopping tips, such as carpooling grocery trips and avoiding products with more than five ingredients, at Tinyurl.com/ShopHealthier.

Prepare and Serve Righteously “On average, each person throws about $600 worth of food into the

trash every year because of spoilage,” says Seo. Instead of rinsing food before storing, which causes more spoilage, he recommends cleaning it right before meal preparation. Buying what’s in season (and thus less expensive) makes sense, advises Hoedel. “When you find fresh produce on sale, buy it in large quantities and boil it (one to five minutes, depending on how long the regular cooking time is), and then freeze it in glass containers. This saves money and plastic packaging waste.” Hoedel also likes to store lemon wedges, chopped onions and other leftovers in small glass jars instead of plastic bags. Seo suggests using real dinnerware, glasses and utensils instead of disposable products. For a touch of elegance, take the advice of travel expert Kathy Denis, of Leawood, Kansas. “Adopt the traditional French practice of using—and reusing—a cloth napkin all week, or until it is too soiled to use,” she recommends. “Family members like to have a personal napkin ring. Each napkin gets shaken out and then rolled up in the ring for use at another meal.” “Saving leftovers in the freezer helps keep it full (which helps it run more efficiently) and ensures future meals that require minimal energy to prepare,” advises Seo. Hoedel’s zero-waste tips, shared via Twitter, include making and freezing lots of end-of-season pasta sauce with tomatoes, peppers and basil. Food can also be canned or pickled. Seattle cookbook author Kim O’Donnel, who founded Canning Across America and is known for her meatless recipes, says, “My only regret about canning is that I waited so long. Learning how to extend the season of my favorite fruits and vegetables in a jar is one of the most gratifying and useful skills I’ve acquired as an adult.” As green eating habits add up, Bittman says he enjoys… “a bit of self-satisfaction knowing that, by an infinitesimal amount, I’m reducing the pace of global warming. And I’m saving money by buying more ‘real’ food and less meat and packaged junk.” Award-winning cookbook author Judith Fertig blogs at AlfrescoFood AndLifestyle.blogspot.com.

naturalpet

DETECTING

DISEASE

Liver and Adrenal Issues Share Symptoms by Dr. Shawn Messonnier

drenal and liver diseases can commonly plague pets, with adrenal problems occurring more often in dogs but routinely misdiagnosed, and liver disease more frequently present in cats.

Liver Disease

This inclusive term is used to describe any disorder of the liver. In both dogs and cats, common causes include toxins, infections, metabolic problems and tumors. In cats, infections and fatty liver disease are more likely, while dogs more often experience infections and tumors. Clinically affected pets are usually anorectic (not eating) and lethargic; in severe cases, jaundice may occur. Conventional therapies depend to some extent on the cause, but in general, antibiotics and hospitalization for fluid therapy and forced feeding, often through a stomach tube, are necessary to give the pet the best chances of recovering. Pets with liver cancer are usually diagnosed too late to be a candidate for surgery, unless only one liver lobe is involved, or chemotherapy. More gentle natural therapy often results in curing the condition, even in later stages, depending upon the root cause. The herb milk thistle is well known for its ability to heal liver damage. B vitamins, as well as the nutritional supplements comprising S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe) and phosphatidylcholine, may also be effective treatments.

Adrenal Disease

Adrenal issues, especially common in middle-aged and older canines, can refer to Addison’s disease or Cushing’s disease—signifying decreased or increased adrenal function, respectively— and are commonly misdiagnosed as liver disease. Addison’s disease, although not prevalent, is often incorrectly diagnosed because its symptoms of reduced appetite, vomiting, diarrhea and weakness are shared with most other diseases. Blood testing can be

helpful, but is not always definitive. Cushing’s disease is a more common problem. Signs mimic diabetes and kidney disease, including increases in appetite, thirst and urination. Accurate diagnosis requires specialized blood tests and abdominal sonograms. Conventional treatment for either disease involves lifelong medication. Natural therapies that work to prevent and alleviate such ailments may involve adrenal glandular supplements, milk thistle and herbs such as licorice (for Addison’s disease) or ginseng and magnolia bark (for Cushing’s disease). Regular laboratory testing is important for a pet to allow for early diagnosis and treatment of potentially life-threatening diseases. If a pet develops liver or adrenal disease, combining conventional therapies with natural remedies usually results in successful treatment of the condition. Shawn Messonnier, a doctor of veterinary medicine practicing in Plano, TX, is the award-winning author of The Natural Health Bible for Dogs & Cats and Unexpected Miracles: Hope and Holistic Healing for Pets. Visit PetCare Naturally.com.

“In my veterinary practice, pets with elevated levels of enzymes indicating liver or adrenal disease are always treated with natural remedies first. In most cases, this treatment is effective and conventional medication is not needed.” ~ Dr. Shawn Messonnier natural awakenings

April 2013

fitbody

Picture Perfect From athletes to astronauts, mental imagery boosts performance. by Debra Melani

ast winter, Terry Chiplin went for an early morning run near his Colorado home. Snow crunched as his sneakered feet hit the front porch of his mountain lodge, tucked into a secluded forest. Evergreen boughs glistened in the sun, drooping slightly from the weight of the sparkling white powder. The running coach smiled as he lifted

The Earth is what we all have in common. ~Wendell Berry

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his face to the sky, welcoming the large, wet flakes that kissed his face. “Can you picture it?” asks the bubbly British native and owner of Active at Altitude, in Estes Park. That is visualization, he explains, a concept he uses regularly at retreats he conducts for runners from beginner to elite as a holistic means of boosting performance. “It’s simply a succession of mental images; we use visualization all the time.” Whether it’s Tiger Woods envisioning a perfect golf swing minutes before taking a shot or Michael Phelps replaying a mental video of an ideal swim the night before an Olympic event, many athletes have long worked with trainers such as Chiplin to move beyond strictly physical preparation and consciously enlist creative mental capacities to enhance their performance. Using imagery and positive self-talk can improve the efforts of any type of athlete and, as Chiplin’s clients have found, improve their lives. “The notion that we are just a physical body, so we just need to train physically, is old-fashioned,” Chiplin maintains. Shortly after launching his program six years ago, he learned firsthand how powerful the mind could be

in boosting (or sabotaging) performance. He remarks, “It quickly became apparent that the main issues people face are the mental things, what is happening in their heads.” Chiplin recalls watching runners fall from the peak capabilities they had reached after training hard for endurance events as their mileage tapered off in the final days before the race. Similarly, he thinks the sort of “negative visualization” he witnessed can have a similar impact on everyday life events, such as exams, interviews and job achievement. Although unclear about its exact mechanism, sports psychologists have long recognized the value of positive mental imagery, especially in building skills and reducing anxiety. In working with athletes, they apply shared models such as those reported in The Sport Psychologist. Both professional and amateur runners have benefited from Chiplin’s camps, including graduate Ginny Landes, 62, who says visualization techniques have changed her running outlook and her life. “My goal is not high achievement or personal records; it’s to always finish my run feeling good,” says Landes, of Lafayette, Colorado. As part of the visualizing process, she says she also clears her mind of negative thoughts, stops comparing her performance to others and accepts factors that are out of her control, whether it’s bad race weather or competitive colleagues. Practicing helpful visualization techniques consistently in daily life can lead to better returns across the board, not just in athletics, according to Terry Orlick, a performance consultant from Ottawa, Ontario, and author of many self-improvement books, including Embracing Your Potential and In Pursuit of Excellence. Orlick has worked with people from many walks of life that use imagery in their quest for improvement, including surgeons, musicians, pilots, dancers, astronauts and CEOs. When working with Canadian Olympic teams, Orlick found that 99 percent of the athletes practiced visualization an average of 12 minutes per day, four times a week. Studies have linked imagery and

improved performance in a variety of sports. For instance, researchers found that golfers that used visualization and positive self-talk improved their putting performance (Journal of Sports Science & Medicine). Another study showed an increase in confidence among novice female rock climbers, leading to better performance (Journal of Sport Behavior). For Landes, her personal experience is all the proof she needs. After years of rarely being able to run the entire course of a major annual race in Aspen—generally walking the last stretch—Landes tried visualizing herself having a strong finish as she trained and prepared for the event. For weeks, she replayed the last three miles many times in her mind. Then she ran the race, paring 12 minutes off her previous year’s time. “It felt great,” Landes says, “and it worked.” Freelance journalist Debra Melani writes about health care and fitness from Lyons, CO. Connect at Debra Melani.com or DMelani@msn.com.

Visualization Tips

s with any skill, practice often, gradually increasing the number of sessions. ■ For maximum effect, incorporate sounds, smells, colors and feelings to create vivid images. ■ Plan imagery to meet current needs. If struggling with a skill, imagine performing it perfectly and confidently many times. If distractions are an issue, imagine remaining calm and focused while dealing with whatever occurs during an event. Source: Adapted from Association for Applied Sport Psychology

inspiration

Earth Music Saving Nature’s Wild Symphony by Bernie Krause

e may be drawn to the sounds of waves or woodland streams or beguiled by the subtle winds and creature voices of the desert or mountains. Whatever captures our imagination, as we actively listen, something in a wild animal’s repertoire will cause us to catch our breath. Nature teems with a vigorous resonance that is as complete and expansive as it is delicately balanced. Every place on the planet populated by plants and wild animals is a concert hall, with a unique orchestra performing an unmatched symphony. Each resident species possesses its own preferred sonic bandwidth—to blend or contrast—akin to how stringed, woodwind, brass and percussion instruments stake out acoustic territory in an orchestral masterpiece. Into Earth’s daily round are embedded the dawn and daytime, evening and nighttime choruses. Whatever the purpose of a creature’s aural signal— mating, protecting territory, capturing food, group defense, play or social contact—it must be audible and free from human acoustical interference if the species is to successfully function. During the last half of the 20th century, I recorded the wild sounds of more than 15,000 species and 4,500 hours of natural ambience. Nearly 50 percent of these land, sea and sky habitats have since then become seriously compromised, if not biophonically silent. The loss of representative habitats due to human presence and noise has resulted in declines in the density and diversity of creatures large and small that contribute to healthy natural soundscapes. Fortunately, in the absence of human habitation, these places can

become lively again. Fellow British soundscape ecologist Peter Cusack wrote of the restoration of wildlife 20 years after the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear catastrophe in the Ukraine: “Animals and birds absent for many decades— wolves, moose, white-tailed eagles, black storks—have moved back, and the Chernobyl [human] exclusion zone is now one of Europe’s prime wildlife sites. The species-rich dawn chorus is one of Chernobyl’s definitive sounds… its nighttime concerts equally spectacular.” In 1968, 45 percent of the oldgrowth forests in the contiguous United States were still standing; by 2011 it was less than 2 percent. Before the forest echoes die, we may want to step back for a moment and listen carefully to the chorus of the natural world where rivers of sound flow, ranging from crickets, frogs and insects to wrens, condors, cheetahs, wolves— and us. Otherwise we are denying ourselves the fullest experience of that which is essential to our spiritual and psychological health. The whisper of every leaf and creature’s song implores us to love and care for the delicate tapestry of the biophony that was the first music our species ever heard. It told us that we are part of a single, fragile biological system; voices in an orchestra of many, with no more important cause than the celebration of life itself. Adapted excerpt from The Great Animal Orchestra, by Bernie Krause, used with permission of Little, Brown and Company. Listen in at WildSanctuary. com and learn more at NatureSounds. org and WorldListeningProject.org. natural awakenings

April 2013

Coming in May

greenliving

GOING ELECTRIC Tech Advances May Drive Eco-Transportation Mainstream by Brita Belli

Women’s W Wellness Practical ways to achieve radiant well-being. Redefining your best years yet.

For more information about advertising and how you can participate, call

413-234-0024 24

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ith the opening of three new Supercharger stations for its luxury Model S on the East Coast last January, electric carmaker Tesla now operates a total of nine stations serving its electric sedan owners between San Francisco and Los Angeles and between Boston and Washington, D.C. That same month, Nissan announced plans to add 500 public stations for electric vehicle (EV) fast-charging, which provide 80 percent of a charge in less than 30 minutes, tripling the number of such stations by mid-2014, including the first ones in our nation’s capital. It also aims to increase the presence of charging stations at workplaces. These steps in the growth in infrastructure are easing Americans’ transition from gas-powered to electric and hybrid cars. Already, more than 7,000 public charging stations dot the country, from Custer, Washington, to Key West, Florida (plan a route at Tinyurl. com/MobileChargingStations). Meanwhile, most EV owners simply charge up at home.

Driving Excitement

Excitement has risen in recent years as electric car manufacturers have rolled out more affordable, family-friendly

versions like the Nissan Leaf and Mitsubishi i-MiEV. Honda is testing its Fit EV in 2013; with only 1,100 available to lease, opportunities to try out the fun, sporty car are at a premium. These models offer considerable fuel efficiency, easy charging and even apps to check their charge, yet eco-vehicles continue to represent a fraction of overall car sales. In a 2012 report, the U.S. Energy Information Administration noted that fewer than 10,000 EVs were sold in 2011. While sales of all-electric vehicles improved slightly in the first half of 2012, dealers saw nowhere near the major jump produced by plug-in hybrids like the Chevrolet Volt and Toyota Prius. Obstacles to a stronger EV sales upswing include purchase price, charging time and driver anxiety about range. “The battery is a big reason the cars are expensive,” says Jim Motavalli, author of High Voltage: The Fast Track to Plug in the Auto Industry. “More public charging is coming,” he adds, “but it doesn’t matter as much as a cheaper upfront cost and longer range—200 miles plus—instead of the standard 100 now.”

Mass Transit

Almost any form of public transportation can run on alternative power—

electricity or natural gas, propane, biodiesel or hydrogen. “The big hurdle,” says Motavalli, “is having enough stations to rival the 160,000 conveniently located gas stations we already have.” Biodiesel buses have been in use for several years at locations like Colorado’s Aspen resorts and Harvard University. Musicians Willie Nelson and Jack Johnson each rely on a biodiesel tour bus. Many school buses—including those in Charleston, West Virginia; Medford, New Jersey; and San Diego, California—have been converted to biodiesel, significantly reducing the toxic emissions and particulate matter children breathe in at bus stops. Some school systems in Michigan and New York use hybrid-electric buses. Vehicle fleets are also joining the greening trend. Kansas City, Missouribased Smith Electric Vehicles already produces all-electric, zero-emission trucks for Coca-Cola, Frito-Lay, Staples and the U.S. Marines. The need for regular recharging, a former obstacle for deploying electric buses for public transportation, has been cleared by Utah State University’s (USU) Aggie Bus. The groundbreaking,

all-electric bus has a plate that draws off electricity across an air gap when it pauses over another plate installed at a bus stop. In mid-2013, WAVE, Inc., the university’s offshoot company behind the project, will launch a commercial on-campus demonstration in partnership with the Utah Transit Authority, via a 40-foot-long transit bus and 50 kilowatts of wireless power transfer. Such wireless technology could also revolutionize electric-car recharging. “EV owners and operators will now be able to simply drive over a pad in the ground to recharge their batteries, the benefits of which reach far beyond convenience,” says Robert T. Behunin,

Ph.D., USU vice president of commercialization and regional development. Regarding greening travel by train, Europe is leagues ahead of America; half its trains are now electric. A new regenerative braking system being developed by Deutsche Bahn and Tognum could turn all trains into hybrids. Its innovative drive system converts the kinetic energy produced during braking into usable electrical energy, reducing emissions and saving up to 25 percent in fuel consumption. The first such converted hybrid train testing the technology began carrying passengers in Germany in January 2013. The International Energy Agency’s 2012 EV City Casebook reports that, “Electric vehicles represent one of the most promising technology pathways for cutting oil use and CO2 on a per-kilometer basis. The experiences of urban drivers and the pioneering policies of local governments can help accelerate the transition to clean and sustainable mobility.” Freelance writer Brita Belli is the editor of E-The Environmental Magazine. Connect at BritaBelli.com.

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April 2013

healingways

Illinois Department of Public Health. Healthier choices: Switch to allnatural beauty products and cosmetics. At minimum, check that compressed wood fibers don’t use a formaldehydebased chemical as a binding agent; better yet, choose natural, reclaimed wood for interior surfaces and furnishings.

Household CLEANSE Banish these Five Chemicals for a Domestic Detox by Gail Griswold-Elwyn

“

mericans are collectively more aware and educated than just a few years ago about the range of environmental chemicals we inhale and ingest, yet most still live with dangerous substances in their homes,” according to Jen Loui. She is a Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design-accredited professional in St. Louis and an industry expert who writes green curricula for high schools across the country. Guarding against pollution of indoor air is a good place to start; the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has ranked poor air quality among the leading environmental dangers, reporting links to many common health problems. Here’s how to rid the family home of the top five common household toxins.

We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children. ~Native American Proverb

Formaldehyde. Traces of this toxin, the same chemical used to embalm the deceased, pervade almost every room. “My clients are often shocked to learn that they likely ingest this toxic, cancer-causing chemical every day of their lives,” says P. Richelle White, a sustainable lifestyle coach and co-owner of Herb’n Maid, a green cleaning and concierge service in St. Louis. “Because formaldehyde is often an ingredient in everyday things like cosmetics, faux wood furniture and conventional cleaning products, they get a daily dose of it.” Even at low levels, formaldehyde can cause eye, nose, throat and skin irritation; at its most malignant levels, it can cause severe allergic asthma, infertility and lymphoma, according to the

Polyvinyl chloride. PVC is omnipresent and dangerous. Water bottles, nylon backpacks, pipes, insulation and vinyl tiles generally contain PVC, as well as almost anything waterproofed, such as baby changing mats and mattress covers. PVC usually contains plasticizers called phthalates, which are released over time; it also can chemically combine with other organic materials to produce toxic dioxin byproducts. According to Greenpeace and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), PVC byproducts and vapors are endocrine disruptors that can mimic or block hormones in the body. In addition, the EPA has linked PVC to serious respiratory problems, immune suppression and cancer. Healthier choices: Look for PVCfree plastics. When shopping for waterproofed items, choose those with coatings made from polyurethane or polyester. Phthalates. A 2007 report by the NRDC notes that 12 out of 14 common brands of household air fresheners and room sprays contain phthalates, which people regularly inhale primarily because these chemicals prolong the time that products maintain their fragrance. In studies conducted by the World Health Organization, researchers concluded that consistent exposure to phthalates could increase the risks for endocrine, reproductive and developmental problems. The majority of synthetic air fresheners were found to also emit significant amounts of terpene, a volatile organic compound (VOC) that can react with naturally occurring ozone to create formaldehyde. Healthier choices: Put boxes of baking soda in cabinets to absorb odors and scent interiors with all-natural oils and potpourri. Chlorine. According to the American Lung Association, most conventional cleaning products include some chlo-

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“Allergies, asthma, lung cancer and heart problems have all been linked to poor indoor air quality.”

calendarofevents NOTE: All calendar events must be received by the 10th of the month and adhere to our guidelines. Review guidelines and submit entries online at NAWestMA.com (within advertising section). MA/EPA Lead Paint Workshop – 8:30am-5pm. Workshop on MA/EPA rules applying to contrac-

~ U.S. EPA

Volatile organic compounds. VOCs are emitted as harmful gases by a wide array of products including paints, lacquers and paint strippers; cleaning supplies; pesticides; carpets and furnishings; office copiers and printers, correction fluids and carbonless copy paper; plus graphics and craft materials that include glues and adhesives, permanent markers and photographic solutions. The EPA calculates that, “Concentrations of many VOCs are consistently higher [up to 10 times] indoors than outdoors.” Healthier choices: Look for VOC-free products and consider using organic clay paint, which has the added benefit of acting as an absorbent of toxic gases. Most people spend up to 90 percent of their time indoors, where the air quality can be two to five times (and even up to 100 times) more polluted than the air we breathe outside, according to the EPA. “A simple solution is to open windows for a portion of each day or night to let in fresh air,” advises Loui. Making these choices enables us to protect ourselves better at home. Gail Griswold-Elwyn is founding president of Rethink Renovations, of St. Louis, MO, which offers green design/build and construction services, including cabinetry and furniture that minimize environmental impact. Connect at 314-323-8845 or RethinkRenovations.com.

Renovation Worker by learning specific work Photo credit: C. Michele Rose

rine, with large concentrations in bleach. Inhalation of chlorine can irritate the respiratory system; prolonged exposure can lead to lung disease and asthma. Healthier choices: Purchase chlorine-free cleaning products, especially chlorine-free bleach. Or make inexpensive solutions of white, distilled vinegar mixed with a little lemon for scent for a multipurpose, multi-surface cleaner; try baking soda as a scrubbing powder.

MONDAY, APRIL 1 Plant Sale: Hampshire & Hampden Conservation Districts – Thru Apr 10. Plants available for order online. Choices include a wide variety of trees, shrubs, perennials, and edibles. Some quantity discounts available. Bluebird houses and compost also for sale. Soil testing done by members of the Western Massachusetts Master Gardeners on pick-up day, April 27 at the Big E. Request brochure by calling the plant sale coordinator Julie Myer: 413-230-7722. 413TreeSale@gmail.com. PioneerValleyConservation.org. Farmers’ Market Manager Forum – 6-8:30pm. Farmers’ market managers and steering committee members are invited to join CISA for this meeting to discuss farmers’ market structure, management, challenges, marketing and anything else of interest to the group. Come with questions for other managers and be willing to share your thoughts and experiences. Free; light dinner served. Held at Kittredge Center, Rm 302, Holyoke Community College. RSVP required: 413-665-7100 x 22 or Devon@BuyLocalFood.org.

THURSDAY, APRIL 4 A Walk Through Holyoke-1982, Jerome Liebling, – 8:30am-5pm. Exhibit open to public, April 5-7, 10am-4pm, Open Square Gallery. April 9-27 at The Holyoke Public Library and Gallery, Mill 4, Open Square Way, Holyoke. Tickets: 413-322-5636. More info: HolyokePOB.org.

Community College Workforce Development registration required. Register with Karen Chastney: 413-775-1661 or GCC.Mass.Edu/wfd.

FRIDAY, APRIL 5 Walk to Work Day Celia Grace Eco-Fair Trade Wedding Dress Trunk Show – April 5-6. 10am-4pm, by appt. Try on dresses that follow fair trade practices. Made on non-electric looms. Made with eco silk. Hosted by Pearl Bridal Boutique, Open Square Way, Holyoke. Marcie Muehlke: 978-302-6564 or Marcie@ CeliaGrace.com. Eating Locally Talk – 11:45am-12:30pm. With Doug Plavin. Overview of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm model, how it works, products they term description of Organic, low spray and conventionally grown will be explained. The nutritional, economic

Meditation – 6-8pm. Guided meditations with Lisa Wilson. Take part in a discussion. Both beginners and experienced meditators welcome. Free. The InTo register: 413-783-9424 x 2 or Barbara@BetterLifeWholeFoods.com. BetterLifeWholeFoods.com.

SATURDAY, APRIL 6 – 8:30am-1:30pm. Planning today can shape our future. Presenters include Food Security: Abrah Dresdale, Adjunct Faculty, Farm and Food Systems, Greenfield Community College; Buildings and Energy: Simi Hoque, Assistant Professor, Building Systems, University of Massachusetts Amherst; Schools and Education: Joshua Hornick, Teacher,

WE STILL ON?

please recycle

Call ahead to confirm that the event details haven’t changed and tell them you saw it in Natural Awakenings of Western Mass.

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April 2013

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Four Rivers Charter Public School; Health Services: Donna Stern, RN. Register: 413-773-0228

markyourcalendar SATURDAY, APRIL 6 Integrating Psychotherapy & The Usui System of Reiki Healing – Apr 6 & 7. 9:30am-4:30pm, Sat; 9am-1:30pm, Sun. With Dr. Donna Bakeron Usui System) to reduce stress, alleviate pain

Make your community a little GREENER …

Support our advertisers. For every $100 spent in locally owned business, $68 returns to the community. source: the350project.net

body, mind and spirit. $250 (CEUs). Hartford Family Institute, West Hartford, CT. To register: 860-236-6009 or HartfordFamilyInstitute.com.

SUNDAY, APRIL 7 World Health Day

will ensure deep relaxation pain and stress relief. $75-$110 sliding scale for 1 hr, $55/30 mins. Crystal Falls Wellness Center, 285 College Hwy, 2nd Fl, Southampton. For appt: 413-265-9934, LeighGate@ hotmail.com. Source-Gate.com.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10

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Weatherization Installer: Accelerated Workshop – Apr 16-19. 8am-4pm. Workshop to complete the Building Performance Institute’s (BPA) Residential Building Envelope Whole House Air Leakage Control Installer (RBE-WJ-ALCI) certification exam. Air sealing, thermal envelope, ductwork and

Nuestras Raíces Earth Day Event – 2-4pm. Farm cleanup day and planting. Farm tours are available. Nuestras Raíces Farm, 24 Jones Ferry Rd, Holyoke. Cynthia Espinosa, Farm Manager: 413-531-2767 or CEsponosa@Nuestras-Raices.org. Nuestras-Raices.org.

Foot Reflexology Sessions – 5-7:30pm. Leigh Russell’s energetic and remote clearing techniques

TUESDAY, APRIL 16

and live with more freedom. $40/pre-registered 1 wk prior; $45/day of. Ingleside Yoga and Massage, 415 Ingleside St, Rte 5, Holyoke. 413-536-9682. MassageTherapyoga.com.

TUESDAY, APRIL 9

~Alphonse Karr

International Environment Day

Workforce Development registration required. Register with Karen Chastney: 413-775-1661 or GCC.Mass.Edu/wfd.

comcast.net. BalanceTotalBody.com.

always grumbling because roses have thorns; I am thankful that thorns have roses.

SUNDAY, APRIL 14

Cultivate Forgiveness to Experience Freedom – 1:30-4pm. Workshop focuses on manifesting freedom (Swatantrya). Will focus on the wisdom The Art of Forgiveness, among others. Hip-openers, forward bends, twists, pranayama (breath awareness) and meditation prac-

MELT Method Introduction Workshop – 4-6:30pm. MELT Method eases chronic pain and reverses the negative effects of aging. Highly encourage attending an Intro workshop before attending. $25 per person. LifeDance Studios, 22 Cherry St, 2nd

Some people are

Springfield. FarmersMarketAtForestPark.com. BuyLocalFood.org.

Green Night – 4:30-6:30pm. Networking, community announcements, presentation wrap-up, green drinks. Take part in a discussion. Open to public. No registration required. Free. Clarion Hotel, 1 Atwood Dr, Northampton. Alexandra Risley Schroeder: Alex@FindingEarthWorks.org. WesternMass GreenConsortium.org. Cultivating Compassion: A Powerful Agent of Change – 6-8pm. Shana Hirandani, MA, BCC, presents interactive program, research, exercises and discussion that will highlight how compassion transforms 20 West St, Northampton. Register: 413-341-3158 or Coaching-With-Compassion.com/Events.

SATURDAY, APRIL 13 10am-2pm. Old Monkey House in Forest Park, 302 Sumner Ave,

MONDAY, APRIL 22 Earth Day

THURSDAY, APRIL 25 Holistic Health Alliance – 7-8pm. The Holistic Health Alliance of the Pioneer Valley is a professional group of wellness practitioners dedicated to helping people improve the health of their body, mind and spirit through a variety of therapies. Organized by Mark Sherry, M. Ed Psychology, M.A. CLL. No cost to join membership. First Churches of Northampton. For more info: 413-374-7671, Hhapv.org, LaughFor TheHealthOfIt.org.

FRIDAY, APRIL 26 Arbor Day, Tree Planters Holiday

SATURDAY, APRIL 27 Springfield Museums: Earth Day Cleanup – public space, in cooperation with Keep Springfield Beautiful’s Great American Cleanup. For info & volunteer sign-up: 413-263-6800 x 404. 10am-2pm. Old Monkey House in Forest Park, 302 Sumner Ave, Springfield. FarmersMarketAtForestPark.com. BuyLocalFood.org. World T’ai Chi Day – 9-11am. Michelle Grassi hosts a T’ai Chi celebration. Free. Abundant Wellness Center, 94 Chicopee St, Chicopee. To register: 413-592-2828 or Info@AbundantWellness.net.

MONDAY, APRIL 29 Greenery Day

ongoingevents NOTE: All calendar events must be received by the 10th of the month and adhere to our guidelines. Review guidelines and submit entries online at NAWestMA.com (within advertising section).

side Yoga and Massage, 415 Ingleside St, Rte 5, Holyoke. Pre-registration required: 413-536-9682. MassageTherapyoga.com. Yoga Level I-II – 5:30-7pm. Class for continuing students, both Advanced Beginners (students that have been attending a Level I class for a minimum of several months) and Intermediate students that have a good understanding of alignment. All types of asana (poses) practiced including inversions and arm balances. Helps to build strength, endurance

sunday Photo credit: C. Michele Rose

All Levels Yoga – 10:30-11:45am. All levels of experience and ability welcome. The instructor will offer options for beginners as well as more challenging options for the experienced yogi. $14/drop-in; student, senior, veterans, teen discounts available. Serenity Yoga, 15 College St, South Hadley. 413563-3678. SerenityYogaStudio.net. Pilates Mat Class – 10:45-11:45am. Open level. This mixed-level Pilates class will focus on develan environment to create functional strength that improves the movement of the body in everyday life through both gentle and strenuous exercise. $13/drop-in, $66/6 classes, $110/10 classes. Vega Yoga, 4 Open Square Way, Studio 221, Holyoke. 413-519-4966. VegaYoga.com.

monday MELT – 10-11am. MELT Method eases chronic pain and reverses the negative effects of aging. Highly encourage attending an Intro workshop before attending. $20/drop-in, $75/5 classes. Life413-579-7870. BalanceTotalBody.com. Community Acupuncture – 3-5:30pm. By appt. Also Fri. Affordable care for a healthy community. Acupuncture in a shared space, rather than private rooms, enables lower cost. With Licensed Acupuncturist Terry Tangredi. Sliding scale: $30 & up. Abundant Wellness Center, 94 Chicopee St, Chicopee. For more info or appt: 413-592-2828 or AbundantWellness.net. Zumba® Fitness – 6:30-7:30pm. Also Tues, Wed and motivating music with fun, effective and easydrop-in, $45/10 classes, $40/unlimited classes. Paper City Fitness, Studio at Open Square, 383 Dwight St, Holyoke. 413-214-4777. PaperCityFitness.com. Yoga Level I-II – 6:30-8pm. Class for continuing

students, both Advanced Beginners (students that have been attending a Level I class for a minimum of several months) and Intermediate students that have a good understanding of alignment. All types of asana (poses) practiced including inversions and arm balances. Helps to build strength, endurance possibilities both on and off the mat. $18/drop-in, $85/5 classes, $145/10 classes. Ingleside Yoga and Massage, 415 Ingleside St, Rte 5, Holyoke. 413536-9682. MassageTherapyoga.com.

tuesday willPower & grace – 6am. Also Thurs, 7:15am. Done in bare feet, the workout comprises a formatted fusion of postures and drills; it is a high-energy, caris as philosophical and psychological as it is physical. With Kate O’Donnell from Paper City Fitness Studio. $5/drop-in, $45/10 classes, $40/unlimited classes. Held at Vega Yoga Studio, Open Square, Holyoke. 413-214-4777. PaperCityFitness.com. Yoga Therapeutics Class – 9:30-11am. Gentle Yoga for Injuries & Special Conditions. Class designed for students recovering from injuries and/or living with special physical conditions and for those who desire a gentle yoga class. $18/ drop-in, $85/5 classes, $145/10 classes. Ingle-

possibilities both on and off the mat. $18/drop-in, $85/5 classes, $145/10 classes. Ingleside Yoga and Massage, 415 Ingleside St, Rte 5, Holyoke. 413536-9682. MassageTherapyoga.com. Meditation – 7:15-8pm. Meditation will enhance your yoga practice because more awareness of our breath expands the quality and experience of our yoga practice. These practices will deepen your connection to Spirit and manifest abundant happiness and peace in your life. $18/drop-in, $85/5 classes, $145/10 classes. Ingleside Yoga and Massage, 415 Ingleside St, Rte 5, Holyoke. 413-536-9682. MassageTherapyoga.com.

wednesday Intermediate Flow – 9-10:15am. A moderately teen discounts available. Serenity Yoga, 15 College St, South Hadley. 413-563-3678. SerenityYogaStudio.net. Qigong & Tai Chi – 6-7pm. Also Sat, 9-10am. Draw from ancient traditions and make it relevant to modern life, focusing on healing, growth, opening, connecting, working towards embodied wholeness and relaxation, while feeling grounded and centered. $10/drop-in, $50/6-wks. Abundant Wellness Center, 94 Chicopee St, Chicopee. For more info: 413-5922828 or AbundantWellness.net. Advanced Tai Chi – 6:30-8:30pm. Chen-style Tai chi is the most dynamic and athletic. One of its unique attributes in relationship to other styles is its emphasis on “spiraling” energy, called Reeling the generation of energy that greatly enhances health and longevity. Instructed by Stan Baker, Licensed

natural awakenings

April 2013

Acupuncturist. Shaolin Kung Fu Center, 284 Bridge 504-3253. ShaolinKungFuCenter.net.

thursday Intermediate/Advanced Vinyasa – 5:45-7:15pm. Photo credit: C. Michele Rose

tures may be offered. Students are recommended to have a regular practice. $14/drop-in; student, senior, veterans, teen discounts available. Serenity Yoga, 15 College St, South Hadley. 413-563-3678. SerenityYogaStudio.net. Bellydance for Fun & Fitness – 7-8pm. Open level. Learn bellydance basics, including posture, hip and

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shimmies. Also learn a short sequence of steps to practice at home or try at the next dance party. So much fun you won’t even realize you are exercising. $13/drop-in, $66/6 classes, $110/10 classes. Vega Yoga, 4 Open Square Way, Studio 221, Holyoke. 413-519-4966. VegaYoga.com. MELT – 7-8pm. MELT Method eases chronic pain and reverses the negative effects of aging. Highly encourage attending an Intro workshop before attending. $20/drop-in, $75/5 classes. LifeDance

friday Community Acupuncture – 3-5:30pm. See Mon listing. Abundant Wellness Center, 94 Chicopee St, Chicopee. For more info or appt: 413-592-2828 or AbundantWellness.net. MELT Method Strength Class – 4-4:45pm. Dropin, no need to register. Highly encourage attending an Intro workshop before attending ongoing strength classes. $20/drop-in, $75/5 classes. LifeDance Stu-

Dance Fitness Class – 5-6pm. Featuring music from 4 decades, this dance class will get your feet moving, heart pumping and calories burning. This easy-tofollow class is great for new and experienced dancers alike and can be done at low or high intensity. Must have dedicated indoor shoes. Outdoor shoes

There is only one success— to be able to spend your life in your own way. ~ Christopher Morley

Western Mass

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Friday Night Flow – 5:30-7pm. End your week, You’ll be appropriately challenged and rewarded with some sweet, juicy winding-down postures. $14/drop-in; student, senior, veterans, teen discounts available. Serenity Yoga, 15 College St, South Hadley. 413-563-3678. SerenityYogaStudio.net.

info: 413-579-7870 or BalanceTotalBody.com.

BalanceTotalBody.com.

classes. LifeDance Studios, 22 Cherry St, 2nd Fl,

saturday Qigong & Tai Chi – 9-10am. See Wed listing. Abundant Wellness Center, 94 Chicopee St, Chicopee. For more info: 413-592-2828 or AbundantWellness.net. Yoga Level I – 9:30-11am. For those new to yoga and those that are learning the poses and alignment. Primary focus on opening the shoulders and hips and focusing on the breath. An introduction to asana (poses) including standing poses, hip openers, backbends, forward bends and twists. $18/drop-in, $85/5 classes, $145/10 classes. Ingleside Yoga and Massage, 415 Ingleside St, Rte 5, Holyoke. 413536-9682. MassageTherapyoga.com. Beginner Yoga – 10:45am-12pm. A well-balanced class with careful attention to detail and alignment in each posture. $14/drop-in; student, senior, veterans, teen discounts available. Serenity Yoga, 15 College St, South Hadley. 413-563-3678. SerenityYogaStudio.net.

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HYDROPONICS NEW ENGLAND HYDROPONICS

15 College Hwy (Rte 10) Southampton, MA 01073 413-529-9025 4BMFT!/&)ZESP DPN t /&)ZESP DPN We have a great selection of low-priced hydroponics and soil-gardening supplies for all types of gardeners. We are an authorized reseller for many different brands including some of the industryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most trusted and innovative companies. New England Hydroponics has everything you need to start a hydroponic or soil-based indoor garden, right in your own home. See ad, page 17.

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YOGA SERENITY YOGA

Michele Lyman 15 College St, S Hadley, MA 01075 413-563-3678 *OGP!4FSFOJUZ:PHB4UVEJP OFU SerenityYogaStudio.net Serenity Yoga is a peaceful, cozy environment where the focus is on accessible classes, skilled teachers and the health and wellness of the community. Serenity Yoga offers a variety of ongoing classes that include gentle and beginner yoga, moderate yoga, yoga for teens and advanced Vinyasa yoga. For the full schedule, call or visit the website. See ad, page 29.

natural awakenings

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